Highland Park residents get water filters due to elevated levels of lead

Hundreds of people in Highland Park have turned out to get free water filters after tests revealed high lead levels in at least nine of 36 homes tested over the last month.

Highland Park officials announced Wednesday that the results of state-mandated testing put them in violation of a new, tougher rule on lead and copper.

Rresidents have been urged to get their water tested. Anthony Forsyth had his hands full with filters Thursday after picking them up for people who couldn't attend. He said he's concerned about elderly people who can't easily leave home.

City water director Damon Garrett is encouraging people to let tap water run for 5 minutes before drinking it. He said most homes have lead service lines. The city is replacing them, but the process is slow and expensive.

Great Lakes Wine and Spirits said it's donating nearly 12,000 bottles of water.

Mayor Hubert Yopp said Highland Park needs more help from the state.

"We will not sit by and become a Flint," he said.

Michigan communities are required to conduct more stringent and frequent water testing in the wake of the Flint water crisis. State regulators have anticipated that would result in more findings of higher levels of lead.